Crowninshield’s elephant

In 1796, New York City welcomed America's first elephant, an Asian elephant from Bengal, brought by Jacob Crowninshield. This female elephant, about two years old, was purchased for $450 and was intended to be resold for a profit. She was exhibited to the public for 25 cents, described as healthy, tame, and friendly, and about the size of an ox. This marked the return of elephants to the continent after an absence of at least 10,000 years.1

Elephants are mammals, with the African bush elephant being the largest living land animal, weighing between 9,900 and 13,500 pounds. Asian elephants weigh around 12,125 pounds, and African forest elephants range from 4,000 to 12,000 pounds.2